Fireplace front or fixture



Dec. 22, 1964 T. C. TOMPERS FIREPLACE FRONT OR FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 6, 1962 Theodore C. Tompers INVENTOR.

I, d Ammry:

Dec. 22, 1964 T. c. TOMPERS FIREPLACE FRONT OR FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 6, 1962 Theodore C. 7bmpers I N VB N TOR United States Patent()fifice 3,162,188 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 3,162,183 FIREPLACE FRONT RFIXTURE Theodore 6. Tompers, 185 N. Fair-field Ave, Susanville, Calif.Filed June 6, 1962, Ser. No. 200,385 4 Claims. (Cl. 126140) Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in fireplace fronts orfixtures of the type revealed by US. Patent No. 2,707,946, issued May10, 1955, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, novel means for shielding the doors and framefrom soot thus greatly decreasing the frequency of cleaning the unitthereby saving considerable time and labor.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide afireplace front of the aforementioned character wherein the soot andheat shield may be installed on units which are already in use orincorporated therein at the factory.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide afireplace front or fixture of the character set forth comprising a novelcombination and arrangement of dampers or drafts for controlling thefire.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved fireplacefront which is simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, oflight weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured andinstalled at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view, showing an improved fireplacefront constructed in accordance with the present invention installed;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the invention, showing portions of theside walls of a fireplace in horizontal section;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section on an enlargedscale, taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a rear perspective view of a lower corner portion of thedevice; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section through a portion ofone of the doors.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises arectangular frame of suitable metal and which is designated generally byreference numeral 6. The frame 6 comprises top, bottom and side rails 7,8 and 9, respectively, which, in the assembly shown, are securedtogether by suitable elongated bolts or other fasteners 38. The framerails or members 7, 8 and 9 are substantially channel-shaped and mayhave mounted therein a suitable heat insulating and fireproofingmaterial 10. The top rail 7 of the frame 6 includes a flange 11 on itslower edge which depends into the opening defined by said frame. Asubstantially similar upstanding flange 12 is provided on the upperportion of the bottom rail 3. The bottom rail 8 further includes ahorizontal base flange 40 comprising an inverted channel portion 41having therein a fibreglass dust and ash seal 4-2.

A pair of doors 13 are pivotally mounted for swinging movement in ahorizontal plane on the frame 6 I through the medium of piano-typehinges 14. The hinges 14 mount the doors 13 on the side rails 9 of theframe 6. The doors 13 include transparent panes 15 mounted in frames 16of U-shaped cross-section and also of suitable metal. The doors 13further include generally U-shaped reinforcing bars 43 in the inner orhinged end portions of the frames 16. Corner bolts 44 in the frames 16retain the reinforcing bars 43 in position. The top portions of thedoors 13 are provided with handles 45. A stop flange (not shown) isprovided on the free end of one of the doors for preventing the passageof air between the doors when said doors are in closed position.

Afiixed to the flange 11 and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefromis a protective shield in the form of a baffle 17 of arcuatecross-section. It will be noted that the baflle 17 extends from theflange 11 on the lower portion of the top rail 7 of the frame 6 to thetop of the fireplace 29.

Secured at 18 on the back of the bottom rail 8 is a rearwardly andupwardly curved baflie 19. The baffle 19 includes a reversely folded,generally inverted U-shaped intermediate portion 20 and terminates in adownwardly and rearwardly curved end portion 21. A standard or the like22 is engaged in the portion 20 of the baffle 19 for supporting saidbafiie should a log be dropped thereon.

As shown to advantage in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, the side rails 9comprise inturned inner and outer longitudinal marginal flanges 23 and24, respectively. Mounted on the rails 9 are side baffles 25. The sidebaffles 25 include panels or portions 26 of arcuate cross-section havingoutwardly bent rear marginal portions 27. The front portions of the sidebafiies 25 are acutely bent outwardly in a manner to provide flanges 30which are opposed to the rails 9 and which are reversely bent andinterlocked and sealed as at 31 with the flanges 23 for mounting saidbafiles 25 on said side rails for preventing any side drafts which mayentcr between the side members 9 of the frame 6 and the fireplace frontfrom reaching the door panes 15.

The bottom rail 8 of the frame 6 is provided with a pair of fire draftsor dampers 32. Above the dampers 32 and the portion 18 of the baffle 19,the bottom rail 8 is further provided with a series of air inlet slots33.

The frame 6 is secured in position on the front of the fireplace in themanner shown in FIGURE 4. In the installation shown, elongated threadedrods or the like 35 have one end hooked over certain of the fasteners38. The rods 35 pass through apertures in the flanges 27 and brackets 37provided therefor on the heatilator 39 of the fireplace 29 and havethreaded thereon retaining nuts 36.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, as the heatedsmoke and soot-laden air circulates in the fireplace, said air flowsforwardly along the walls thereof and is caused to swirl toward thecenter and then rearwardly by the arcuate top, bottom and side bafiles17, 19 and 25, respectively. Clean air enters through the slots 33 andis directed upwardly in a broad stream behind the doors 13 by theupwardly and rearwardly curved portion of the bafile 19. Theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts is such that littleor not soot is deposited on the doors and frames, thus necessitatingmuch less frequent cleaning. Also, by pro tecting the frames in themanner described discoloration from the heat is avoided. The drafts 32provide air to the fire for promoting combustion in the usual manner.The damper 34 is normally closed. To check or subdue the fire, thedrafts 32 are closed and the damper 34 is opened.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction aridoperatidn shown anddescribed;

and accordingly all suitable modifications and equilvalents may beresorted to, falling within the scopeof the invention as claimed. 7

What is claimed as new isasfollows: 1; A fireplace front comprising aframe defining an opening" and including top, bottom and side rails,doors for the opening h'ingedly mountedlon said side rails, a sootshield for theframe and the doors mounted on the back of said frame,saidshield including top, bottom and side bafliesmounted'on thecorresponding rails, at least one fire draft damper mounted 'on'thebottom-rail, and a' damper mounted on the top rail to be opened when thefirst-named damper is closed for checking combustion in the fireplace,said bottomrail havingair inlet openings therein between the bottombafile andtthe frameopening,

said bottom baflie including a rearwardly and upwardly} extendingportion for deflecting air from the inlet'openings upwardly behind thedoors and further including an inverted U-shaped intermediate portion,and an upstanding support for thebottom bafiie engaged in; said invertedUshaped intermediate portion thereof. 1

2. The fireplacefront of claim 1 wherein said bottom rail includes meansdefining a downwardly opening and :longitudinally extending channelportion having seal means disposed therein adapted to form a dust andash seal between said bottom railand the floor of a hearth upon whichsaid fireplace front is supported.

3. The fireplace front of claim-Z wherein said top and side railsinclude rearwardly opening and longitudinally extending. channelportions having seal meansdisposed therein adapted to form a dust andash seal between said frame and the outer surfaces of the portions of afireplace wall defining a fireplace opening therein.

4. The fireplace front of claim 1 wherein the portions of said framedefining said frame opening includecoplanar flange portions projectinginto and extending about said 7 opening which overlap the rear surfacesof the corresponding portions of said doors when said door's are intheir closed positions. I V V 1 References Cited by the Examiner V VUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,350,293

5/44 Stanchfield 126-21 X 2,398,240 4/46 Merryweather et al. 126-1402,707,946- a 5/55 Merryweather et a1. 126-140 2,743,720 5/56 Dollin'ger126'140X lAMES W. WESTHAVERQ Primary Examiner.

1. A FIREPLACE FRONT COMPRISING A FRAME DEFINING AN OPENING ANDINCLUDING TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE RAILS, DOORS FOR THE OPENING HINGEDLYMOUNTED ON SAID SIDE RAILS, A SOOT SHIELD FOR THE FRAME AND THE DOORSMOUNTED ON THE BACK OF SAID FRAME, SAID SHIELD INCLUDING TOP, BOTTOM ANDSIDE BAFFLES MOUNTED ON THE CORRESPONDING RAILS, AT LEAST ONE FIRE DRAFTDAMPER MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOM RAIL, AND A DAMPER MOUNTED ON THE TOP RAILTO BE OPENED WHEN THE FIRST-NAMED DAMPER IS CLOSED FOR CHECKINGCOMBUSTION IN THE FIREPLACE, SAID BOTTOM RAIL HAVING AIR INLET OPENINGSTHEREIN BETWEEN THE BOTTOM BAFFLE AND THE FRAME OPENING, SAID BOTTOMBAFFLE INCLUDING A REARWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION FORDEFLECTING AIR FROM THE INLET OPENINGS UPWARDLY BEHIND THE DOORS ANDFURTHER INCLUDING AN INVERTED U-SHAPED INTERMEDIATE PORTION, AND ANUPSTANDING SUPPORT FOR THE BOTTOM BAFFLE ENGAGED IN SAID INVERTEDU-SHAPED INTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREOF.